Dexateens ready to help Tuscaloosa get back to normal one home at a time (Q&A)

The Dexateens' Elliott McPherson, above, played a large role in organizing tonight's "Tuscaloosa Get Up" benefit concert, which has helped raise money for a family that lost its home in the April 27, 2011 tornado. (Chris Pow/al.com)

The Tuscaloosa-based rockers haven't played together since June 2011, but that hiatus comes to an end tonight when they headline the Tuscaloosa Get Up benefit concert alongside Alabama Shakes and Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires at the Bama Theatre at 8 p.m.

Guitarist and singer Elliott McPherson talks to us about planning the benefit with WellThatsCool.com maestro Bo Hicks, the title for the Dexateens' next album and helping Tuscaloosa recover one home at a time.

Ben Flanagan: So this is the first time the Dexateens will play together since last
June, correct? What kind of charge does that send as soon as you book a
show like this after a hiatus?

Elliott McPherson: Well, not playing for almost a year and then doing it off of the cuff is
always nerve racking, but this is sort of the spirit of our band. It
has always been a get on board and go when it's time -- hold on tight and don't let go sort of thing. We are working on a new album and we are
playing four new songs, so this is the only thing I might be super
worried about. The working title of our record is "Songs About Meth and S--t," although that might be a tad misleading because there are more
songs about spirituality and faith than there are about meth. Regardless, I thought it was a good title. Side note: To my knowledge, no Dexateens have ever used any meth.

BF: What does it mean to share this stage with Alabama Shakes and The Glory Fires for an event like this?

EM: Sharing the stage with Lee is always special to me. He really changed
the face of The Dexateens when he started to play with us. He brought a
positive and loving vibe to our band. He came along a time when we were
all really letting our age and our success, or lack thereof, to get the
best of us. In some ways, seeing his youth and his exuberance over
playing in our band, sort of helped us to see the reasons that we should
be doing The Dexateens in the first place. So this is special because
we get to share the stage with him as a Dexateen, but also to share the
stage with his new band, The Glory Fires. They have a
debut album coming out of ALIVE Records, and the songs are awesome. I'm
really proud and excited for him. He is the most talented, genuine guy I
know, and I am excited to see him go out and do his own thing.

The Shakes are carrying the Alabama flag, and everyone I know is excited
and happy for them. They deserve it based on the merit and truth of
their product. I have seen them once before, and I look forward to
meeting them. I like their music and all for sure, but I am most
impressed that they remembered how kind Bo Hicks and Tuscaloosa were to
them before they became the current buzz kings of the music industry. I
think because of Bo and the Well That's Cool gang, they have a soft
place in their heart for our town because they know that Tuscaloosa was
showing them the love way before the bandwagon started rolling. I am
really loving the fact that a Southern band that isn't boring -- and isn't
bearded and isn't cliched and isn't disingenuous -- are being looked
upon fondly by the music community. This is exciting.

BF: You were a big part of getting this event off the ground. What finally
shaped the format?

EM: Bo
hicks and I worked together, but I will tell you that he is the man and
he connected all of the dots. All of this sort of came together in a
serendipitous sort of way, but Bo prodded and pushed to make it happen.
We are just now announcing that Jim Dunaway and Deontay Wilder are
emceeing
the event. This whole thing will rule.

Dexateens was once named one of the top 15 contemporary music acts in Alabama by the Oxford American. The band will perform tonight for the first time since last June. Also performing at Tuscaloosa Get Up will be Alabama Shakes and Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires. (Special)

BF: What role do you think music plays in a recovery like the one Tuscaloosa has faced, and what else can it possibly do?

EM: I think this is good for the city's attitude. It's been almost a year,
and it still looks disgusting when you look around, especially Alberta City. This is a step towards putting a needy family in a house and a
step towards getting back to normal. Tuscaloosa is a place to pray hard,
work hard, play hard and party when the time is right. I really hope
that Bo and I can do a series of these over the course of the year.

BF: How much more of The Dexateens will we be seeing in the near future?

EM: I'm not really sure how much more we will play this year. We are
wanting to finish the album and we are also working on a live record and
mockumentary in which we play exaggerated characters of ourselves. Sort
of like "This is Spinal Tap," but starring us, playing us as we make fun of who we
are. Hard to explain.